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Minnesota House Majority Leader Ryan Winkler attends a press conference at Capitol Hill on Friday, April 5, 2019. (Associated Press)
Lawmakers in Minnesota on Friday passed legislation that would allow illegal immigrants to obtain a driver's license, highlighting the debate within the state on immigration and access to benefits.
"Immigrants, whether documented or not, are Minnesota. They are part of the fabric of our communities, "said House Majority Leader Ryan Winkler. "It's time we helped eliminate this shadow of not having a driver's license."
"Immigrants, whether documented or not, are Minnesota. They are part of the fabric of our communities. It is time for us to help eliminate this shadow of not having a driver's license. "
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The 74-52 vote took place after nearly five hours of busy debates at the state-run House of Democrats. The bill is now introduced in the Senate, controlled by Republicans, where, according to some, it would incite illegal immigration, electoral fraud and reward people who break the law, reported the Star-Tribune of Minneapolis.
Senator Bill Ingebrigtsen of the GOP State said the bill would "undermine our current values".
"Minnesota should not aim to encourage illegal behavior, and allowing illegal and undocumented immigrants to access driver's licenses is exactly what our state would do," he said. did he declare.
"Minnesota should not aim to encourage illegal behavior and allow undocumented and undocumented immigrants to access driver's licenses, which is exactly what our state would do."
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Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka called the bill a chance to pass "small," the newspaper reported.
Proponents argue that licensing drivers to immigrants, regardless of their legal status, will make roads safer and allow some 95,000 undocumented immigrants living in the state to live and work with dignity .
"It's common sense," said Democratic Representative Samantha Vang. "This will allow people to simply open a bank account, drive safely on the road to work, to their school."
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Republican Rep. Steve Drazkowski of R-Mazeppa said the bill is "a step closer to turning Minnesota into a sanctuary."
If the measure were to go through the state legislature, Minnesota would become the 13th state in the country to provide driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants. Prior to 2003, immigrants – legally resident or not – could obtain a driver's license by passing a driving test and taking out insurance.
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